Monte Miletto
2,050 m
Italy
- Elevation
- 2,050 m
- Prominence
- 1,306 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Sep–Oct
- Routes
- 1
RegulationReported 22 Apr 2025
The Environment Ministry decree of 22 April 2025 set the provisional boundaries, zoning and protection measures of the Parco Nazionale del Matese (87,898 ha in Molise and Campania), which includes Monte Miletto. The park's final establishment decree and regulations were still pending.
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Routes
1Sources differ: E (Lo Scarpone (CAI); CAI Campobasso) · E+ (CAI Avellino (variant via the Grotta delle Ciaole))
The standard ascent of the Matese's highest summit: from the ski resort of Campitello Matese (1,430 m) up the ski area past the Capo d'Acqua chairlift to Colle del Caprio (1,848 m), then along the open east ridge to the summit cross. About 620 m of ascent, 2 hours up; steep, stony ground but no technical difficulty.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 4.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +641 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,050 m
- Time Up
- 2h 45m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 56m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park in the large square by the church (or in front of the ski school) at Campitello Matese (1,430 m). With the church behind you, head south through the ski area on a dirt track towards the top of the Capo d'Acqua chairlift, keeping the grassy Campitello plain on your left. Pass a small shrine with a crucifix and the bottom of the Caprio chairlift, then follow the ski run south through patches of beech wood and switchbacks, under the Capo d'Acqua pylons, to its top station (1,697 m, about 1 hour). Turn west along the piste to Colle del Caprio (1,848 m), the top station of the Caprio chairlift (about 1 h 25 min). From here the broad east ridge leads over grass and stones to the summit cross (2,050 m, about 2 hours from the start). In a strong north wind keep to the left (south) of the crest. Just north of the summit stand a dilapidated shelter and the fire service's radio-relay hut. Descend the same way, or make a loop (EE, poorly marked in places) north past the radio hut on the E1 path, down beside old power-line pylons to a stazzo (livestock pen) at about 1,700 m, then under the north face past the Grotta delle Ciaole cave (1,650 m) and back to Campitello along a ski run: about 9 km and 5 hours in all. There is no water on the route; carry at least 1.5 litres.
Start
Campitello Matese1,436 m
- Campitello Matese ski lifts (Capo d'Acqua and Caprio chairlifts); summer operation not verified
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campitello Matese → Monte Miletto | 4.5 | 641 | 29 | 2h 45m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Campitello Matese1,436 m
- Col: Colle del Caprio1,828 m
Top station of the Caprio chairlift
- Summit: Monte Miletto2,050 m
Key Passages
- Steep ski-run climb under the Capo d'Acqua chairlift
- Open east ridge from Colle del Caprio to the summit
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The 2,050 m high point of the Matese massif on the border of Molise and Campania, a bare limestone dome above the ski resort of Campitello Matese. A straightforward 2-hour walk up open slopes leads to a summit with views from the Adriatic to the Bay of Naples.
Monte Miletto is the highest summit of the Matese, a limestone massif of the southern Apennines between the Volturno valley and the Molise uplands. The top lies in the municipality of Roccamandolfi (province of Isernia) and rises above the treeline, so the summit dome is grassy and stony, with a large cross. With 1,306 m of prominence and no higher ground for some 40 km, the view is wide: Lago del Matese and La Gallinola to the south-east, Lago di Gallo to the west, and on clear days Vesuvius, Capri, Ischia and the Gulf of Gaeta, the Maiella and the Gran Sasso, and the Adriatic coast.
The usual approach starts at Campitello Matese (1,430 m), Molise's main ski resort, and climbs the ski area to Colle del Caprio before following the east ridge. It is a short outing of about 620 m of ascent, though steep in places and on loose stony ground. Longer loops descend the north side past the stazzo below the north face and the Grotta delle Ciaole cave, or start from the Lago del Matese side to the south.
The massif became Italy's 25th national park when the Environment Ministry set the provisional boundaries and protection measures of the Parco Nazionale del Matese in April 2025, replacing the smaller regional park. Cattle and horses graze the upper slopes in summer, and wolves live in the massif.
Climbing Notes
In summer this is a simple hike (CAI grade E) that needs only moderate fitness: about 2 hours up from Campitello Matese, or 5–5½ hours for the full loop past the Grotta delle Ciaole. The ground is often stony and the steep sections are tiring; there is no water on the route, so carry at least 1.5 litres. The ridge is exposed to wind, and fog can make the broad slopes confusing, so take a map or GPS track; waymarks are faded in places.
In winter the mountain is a popular snowshoe and ski-touring objective, and the glacial cirque gully on the north side gives an easy (F) snow climb. Winter ascents need crampons, an ice axe and the ability to judge avalanche conditions on the steeper slopes. Summer weekends at Campitello can be busy; weekday or early starts give a quieter summit.
Season
Best Sep–Oct- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow; snowshoe and ski-touring ascents with crampons and ice axe
- Feb
- Winter conditions; check avalanche danger
- Mar
- Late-winter snow; F snow route up the north cirque gully
- Apr
- Spring snow on the upper slopes
- May
- Snow mostly gone by late May
- Jun
- Good conditions; long days
- Jul
- Hot at lower levels; afternoon storms possible
- Aug
- Busy around mid-August; afternoon storms possible
- Sep
- Clear, settled weather often
- Oct
- Clear views; beech woods in autumn colour
- Nov
- First snow possible; short days
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Parco Nazionale del Matese (provisional boundaries and protection measures since April 2025): keep to paths, no fires, follow park rules as they are issued
- Getting There
Campitello Matese (resort) and San Massimo; Bojano for services
Naples International Airport (NAP)
- By car: from Bojano or San Massimo (Molise) on the SP 106 to Campitello Matese; park by the church or the ski school
- Nearest railway station: Bojano (Campobasso–Isernia line); no regular public transport to Campitello Matese was confirmed
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche